Low light sensor signal to noise improvement

Details Low light sensor signal to noise improvement Low light sensor signal to noise improvement

1999-07-21

2004-07-20

Christensen, Andrew (Department: 2615)

Television

Camera, system and detail

Combined image signal generator and general image signal...

C348S216100, C348S243000, C348S248000, C348S257000, C250S208100

Reexamination Certificate

active

06765613

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND
An image sensor can be used in low illumination conditions. It can be necessary to amplify the signal from the sensor used in this way. One typical way of doing this is to “bin” the pixels. For example, a group of four pixels is taken together, and handled as a group. This obtains the signal from all four pixels as an increased-level pixel.
A similar issue can exist when high frame rates are used, where each frame of received signal can be integrated only for a relatively short period of time.
High speed readout produces additional similar issues. Specifically, the high speed readout can be read in bursts. Each of the bursts can be for example a unit, e.g., row or a column, of output of the image sensor. Each unit can be associated with its own unit amplifier to allow the effective unit amplification
20
to be carried out faster. However, unit-to-unit fixed pattern noise can result from mismatched in amplifier voltage offset or gain.
SUMMARY
The present system teaches a device which amplifies according to a combined operation that reduces fixed pattern noise and reduces offsets among the column amplifiers.


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